Total Landscape Care Digital Magazine
Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/335708
equipment matters Rev up effi ciency Electronic fuel injection (EFI) engines are nothing new to the industry, but they are just now becoming available across mower brands. "The main advantages are more reliable cold starts and more effi cient diagnosis of service issues," says Mike Simmon, com- munications specialist, Grass- hopper. This engine is also helping to bridge the gap between customers and alterna- tive fuels. "The EFI system is the catalyst to making the adoption of propane successful," says Garry Busboom, chief develop- ment engineer, Exmark. Tying in the two, Exmark offers an EFI/propane ZTR, the Lazer Z S-Series, which has a Kohler Command Pro engine. "Some landscapers may have accounts that are more environmentally conscious, so they would have an ad- ditional incentive to use propane and EFI," Bus- boom says. Propane costs vary depending on the region and customer, so it pays for landscapers to negotiate the price with suppliers, Busboom says. "The key thing to remember about propane is the usage rate is about the same as gasoline – the advantage is propane is less expensive to purchase," Minas explains. "So, the true cost benefi t is tied to local propane prices." An added benefi t for propane is that it can be 3 4 To t a l L a n d s c a p e C a r e . c o m J U LY 2 014 When buying mowers, landscape business owners need a checklist before heading to their dealer. But what should top that list: price, features, horse- power or something else completely? "The cost of acquisition is only part of the equa- tion," says Mike Simmon, communications special- ist, Grasshopper. "How much that mower will cost in maintenance, downtime, labor, replacement parts, convenience, etc., is every bit as important as the purchase price." Engine and deck size are two of the biggest concerns landscapers have when purchasing a new ZTR, says Nick Minas, product manager, John Deere. "Landscapers are always trying to fi nd the right combination of both to maximize fuel ef- fi ciency and productivity," Minas says. Technology continues to evolve, leading many owners to weigh their engine options, as well. "As fuel costs remain high, more landscap- ers are turning to alternative engine strategies," Minas says. "EFI and propane are continuing to increase in popularity." Another important factor is comfort. Features on the rise are iso-mounted seats, footrests, operator platforms and ergonomically designed controls, Simmon says. "[These features] keep their crews fresh all day long so they can do their best work and still have energy left for their families at the end of the day." So what isn't as important to landscapers in the buying process any more? In the past, some were uncomfortable making the switch from tractors with steering wheels to zero-turn mowers with steering levers – mostly be- cause of a lack of experience with ZTRs, Simmon says. "Now, zero-turn technology is the norm in this industry," he continues. "While we still hear of peo- ple concerned to make the leap, those instances are becoming fewer and further between." BUYING TRENDS John Deere's dealer- installed propane kits are available on their ZTrak, QuikTrak and commercial walk-behind mowers.